Releasing device for well tools



C. E. BROWN v RELEAASING DEVICE FOR WELL TOOLS Filed June a 1922 3 sheets-sheet 1 MTA/:ESS

@at 23, H923. Ll

c. E. BROWN RELEASING EVICE FOR WELL -TOOLS I N V EN TOR. LHWEE ERoW/V c. E. BRWN RELEASING DEVICE FOR WELL TOOLS Filed June i922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Eff@ /9 7 IN VEN TOR.

I nu@ vis cut from the portion that is stuck.

CLAUDE E. BRO'WN, OF SANTA ANA, CALXFFJNE..

RELEASNG @Ell/'ECE FOR 'i/'JELL TOLS.

Application led June '6,'

To all ivi/,0m t may 'conce/rn.'

lie it known that l, CLAUDE E. BROWN, a citizen ot' th e United, States7 residing at Santa Ana. in the county ot Orange and State or" California, have invented a new and ,useful Releasing Device for Well Tools, of which the following is a. speciiication.

In the art of drilling oil wells, gas Wells, and water wells it sometimes becomes necessary to pull the drill pipe 0r outlet ppe from inside the casing or hole, and various means for this purpose have been provided amongr which are devices ca-lled mousetraps `and overshots In these devices, dogs or slips are provided which catch upon the pipe or underneath a joint thereof when the contrivauce is drawn up for that purpose` thus enabling the workman to pull the pipe.

It sometimes occurs that the tool or pipe taken hold of by the dogs or slips is so firmly held in the ground that it cannot be withdrawn by the power that is available.

Sometimes it is necessary Where the pipe is stuck in the hole, to cut it and take it out in sections and in such cases a mouse-trap?7 is used to pull the portion of the pipe tht t sometimes occurs that the cutters become broken without severing.r the pipe and it becomes impossible to pull either the pipe or the cutters; thus causing the loss of the hole and the pipe and devices in the hole.

Various means have heretofore been proposed to releasethe mouse-trap or the overshot7 from its hold on the pipe so as to allow the device to be withdrawn when it is found the pipe cannot be cut-'or pulled.v

l do not know of any such means which is satisfactory; and it is yet common practice in the oil iields to attempt the cutting or the pullinpr ot stuck pipes without providing means tor releasing the cutting or pullingl apparatus 'from the pipein case it is found the pipe cannot be cut or pulled.

Sometimes the stuclr drill pipe may be broken ott in the hole and the lowerend of ,it stuck in the earth andit becomes desirable to' produce .a forced circulation down through the stuck drill pipe to the bottom of the hole to wash out theearth in which the stuck drillpipe is embedded; and in such cases it is common practice to insert a packer into the well at theA bottom of a pipe through which water is forced into the top end ot the broken stuck pipe; and an object rrun ver

ieee, serrer-rio. scares.

of this invention is to provide means whereby the stuck pipe can be tightly packed inside the pipe through which water is del liveredto it, and whereby such' packer may he withdrawn in case it is found desirable so to do. g

An object of this invention is to provide means .whereby the releaseof thecutting, pulling orv packingl device can be easily ef- :tected by operation of the pipe which carries the tool. f f

Other objects are strength, chea-pness and simplicity of construction, and ease and certainty of operation to 'effect the release.

An 'object ofthe invention is `to so construct theJ deviceV that .when the same-is assembled and placed in the fishing tool inwhich it is to be operated, it is possible to rotate such tool in either direction when lowering. into the hole; and einen the depth is reached at which the stuck pipe or tool is to be operated upon, upward movement of the fishing. tool will cause.the device to engage the stck pipe or tool joint,'and the pull may be applied to the joint' while the device is'rotated in either direction, or not at all, as may he desired. and an object is to prevent release of the hold on'the stuck pipe or tool until such release is desrable.

Another object is to so construct the device that :1v-powerful upward pull may be exerted to hold-packing or to lift pipe or tools out of thekholeV v Another obiect is toeffect the release of the device without rotationl in such direction as would unscrew theoperating pipe.

Another object is to so construct the device that after it is released it `cannot again engage the stuck pipeuntil withdrawn and re-set.

Another object is to prevent any loosening of the hold of the device on the pipe which is being withdrawn from the hole. Other objects. advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanyf ing drawinusfthe suhioined' detail descrip-l tion and the appended claims,

The` accompanying drawings illustrate the invention constructed for use as an overshot.

Figure 1 is an axial section of ya device of the overshot type embodying this invention, connected to the lower end of the operating1- pipe, a fragment of which is shown.

A fragment of the drill stock or pipe is also l showing the device removed from the drill i position. ln

f trap.

. confusion.

l.pip-e will turn 'the shoe and the mouse trap in either direction.

Fig. 2 is a View analogous to Fig. 1 showing the lower part of the mouse trap in the vsaine engaging position but omitting the drill pipe shown in Fig. 1. rl`he operating hooksvhave been 'raised by theoperating pipe and partly lowered toward a hooking Figs. 1 and 2 the lower hook ring is connected by a breakable connection with the mouse trap.

Figz 3 is a view-analogous to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the hooks engaged and the op* erating pipe lifted; the connection being rbroken and the master springswithdrawn from behind the dogs shown in pipe-engaging position in Figs. 1 and 2. ln this View the dogs are shown in retracted position to release the stuck drill pipe, not shown. The breakable connection between the-lower hook ring and the mouse trap is broken and dropped down and the master springs of the dog are shown drawn up to release; the dogs which are shown retracted to a vertical position by their retracting springs.

Fig. 4; is an enlarged fragmental sectional detail to illustrate the driving pins and breakable connection between the lower hook ring and the frame of the mouse Dotted lines indicate'the connecting position and solid lines indicate the position to which the connecting and drive pins have dropped back.v

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of one of the driving pins withbreakable temporary 'connection in section on line m5, Figs. y1

and 2.

Fig. 6 is a contracted fragmental View showing the parts 1n the released positionl Fig. 7. and also showing a frag-4 shown in ment of thestuck drill stock or pipe released.

Fig. 7 is a contracted fragmental axial section with the parts in position indicated in Fig. 6. and showing the master springs holding the dogs retracted.

Fig. 8 is a section on line m8, Fig. 6,

pine and set to the position shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 9 is a section on line m9, in Fig. 7, omitting` the upper hook ring. v

Fig. 10 is an elevational detail of the upper hook ring; the hooks on the farther side of the ring being omitted to avoid Fig. 11 is an -elevational detail of the lower hook ring and its master springs.

Fig. 12 is a ragmental View partly in section showingthe mouse trap proper, detached, and thedogs retracted by their retracting springs; also showing the temporary connecting means in disengaging po- Fig. 14 is a fragmental view illustrating I another torna of yconstruction involving the combination of the principles ot Fig. 13 and the preceding views. l

Fig. 15 is a ragm'ental sectional detail of another form of the temporary connection between the mouse trap7 housing and a ring that holds the master spring.

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic fragmental sectional detail to illustrate the application ot this invention to pack and release a broken drill pipe.

The mouse trap may be4 of any suitable construction and in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 6,7, 8, 9 and 12, it is shown as comprising a cylindrical mouse-trap housing` or frame 1 forming meansadapted to. accommodate the stuck pipe' or tool stock (L, and having a chamber enlarged between its upper and lower ends as at 2 to accommodate the dogs 3 andthe dog retracting springs 41. -rl`he dogs and the retracting springs are held in place by an internal sleeve 5 fastened by screws 6 to the *housing 1; and when the dogs are other- 'wise free, the retracting springs hold the dogs outwardly so that the dogs are contained in'the cavity 2. The housing' is preterably anti-frictionallymounted on an annular anti-friction bearing 7 mounted on a lio loose shouldered bushing 8 that is-.supportc ed bya helical spring 9 engaging the under side of shoulder 10 that is formed by reducingthe lower portion ot the bushing 8. Said spring is supported by the shell 11 of the device. which is carried by the operating pipe 12' that is screwed into the top of said shell 11. larg-ed and threaded as at 13 to receive the shoe 141.

The shell 11 is provided at its lower end with a seat 15 tok support the helical spring 9, and is provided with an annular chainber 16 thatcontines the lower portion of said spring to hold the spring to position coaxial with the shell.

The spring 9 is so constructed as to normally hold the' shouldered bushingI 8 a con siderahle distance above the inner wall 17 ot the shell; so that the bushing andthe Said shell is internally eniai " rivets 21. Said lower hook ring is provided on its. upper end with upwardly extending projections constitutinghooks 22 and abutments 23, 24 and 24. The upper hook member 19 is provided with downwardly extending hooks 25, and is fixed by suitable means, as the screws 26 to the shell 11 and is movable up and down by-said shell which is screwed upon the operating pipe 12.

Releasable, temporary connecting means are provided to connect between the housing 1 and the lower hook ring 18, and the same is adapted to be set to hold the lower edge of the member 18 to the housing 1. Said connecting means comprise the reciprocatf ing rod 27 having a shoulder 28 bearing against the'underside of the top shoulder 29 of the housing 1, the upper end of thel rod being fixed in the ring 18 by a pin 30 Yextending through the ring 18 and the Aupper end of said rod 27.' Said rod extends into the sockets 31 and 32. `Whil-e the parts are thus connected, the llower hook ring1-8 is held upby the helical spring 9 into positive contact with the lower end of the upper connecting member 19.

When the parts are assembled as at Fig. Y1, the master springs 20 of the dogs act upon the outer faces of the dogs 3 and press the samev inward, thus overcoming the smaller ret-racting springs 4 and forcing the dogs into engagement with the drill stock or plipe tz.' The lower connecting". member or'hook ring 18 is provided with oppositely arranged abutments 24. 24 be# tween which the hooks of the upper ring are inserted so that while the parts are in the position shown, with the connecting rods in the sockets of the ring, the device can be lowered into the hole that surrounds said drill stock or pipe a., and can be rotated as a unit in either direction by simply revolving the operating pipe 12. 'll-he vtool can also be lowered into the hole and pushed downward forcibly by the same means.

The rods projecting up into the sockets 32 serve to prevent relative rotation between the'lower ring 18 and the housing 1; but the rods 27 do not extend to the bottom' of their sockets 31 in the housing 1,- and when the device has Vbeen lowered to the depth at which it is desired to make the dogs 'taire hold or" thedrill pipe a, an upward movement of the operating pipe 12 will withdraw the"hool s 25 from the recesses between the abut-ments 24 and 24 andrompress the helical spring 9.

Whensaid hooks have been drawn up to above the level of the hooks 22 on the member 18, the operating pipe 12 may be turned and brought into position toenter the space between the other hooks, and may be lowered and revolved to engage the hooks 22.

lWhen the hooks of the upper ringare engaged with the hooks of the lower ring, an upward movement ot the operating pipe 12 will shearthe pins 30 and thus break the connection between the lower connecting ring 18 and the housing 1 which is held against upward movement byengagement of the dogs with the drll"s tock a. r1`he dogs engaged with said stock hold the housing 1 with the result that the pin 30 is sheared; and with the further result that the rod 27 thereupon drops down into the lower ring is thus elevated, the master springs 20 escape the dogs 3, but upward pressure of the helical spring 9 holds the dogs 3 so engaged with the drill stock a, that the retracting springs cannot retract the dogs until the operating pipe 12, carrying the shell 11, is lowered with a rotating movement until the lower ends of the master springs 20 press downward upon the upper edges of the dogs 3, and thus allow the 'retracting springs 4 to force the dogs 3 out, and as the operating pipe 12 is again lowered and rotated, the master springs 20 will be inserted between the drill pipe a and the dog 3, thus positively forcing the dogs out and preventing the dogs from again engaging the drill pipe until the device iswithdrawn from the hole, and reset, and the operationfof the mouse-trap above described, repeated.'

ln Fig. 13 the dogs 33 arepivoted at 33 in the mouse trap housing 34 and are provided with teeth 35 engaging a rack 36 forming the lower end of the reciprocating rod 37, the lower end of which operates in the mouse trap housing 34 and the upper end of which is pushed up into the stationary ring 38 made fast to the shell 11 into which the pipe 12 -is screwed.

This Contrivance is adapted toallow the 38 in the pipe a.

` the same as in bushingv the ins downward C;

spring 9 being compressed to action. To release the dogs from the i "'ting pipe 12 1s turned to l .c end parts si et the 38 above the .ns 37 then the operating pipe 12 is lowered onto the pins;

by this action moving the pipe engaging dogs 33 outward away .from the collar 39. Then upon an upward movement of the operating pipe 12, the spring 9 holds the housing 40 in contact with the upper ring 38 s ol `that the.

dog reciprocating pins do not move from their depressed position, and the dogs thereiore are not allowed to engage the pipe. This holds good until the mouse trap drawn out oit pipe 12 and reset.

ln Fig. 14, the'pins 41 are held downward by springs dogs 43 which are normally held by springs 20 in pipe engaging position as shown in the figure. are constructed with the brealrable conne@ tion 44 corresponding to the breakable connection shown in Figs. 142.

To release the dogs the hook ring 18 is Connected as in said other figures and the operation of releasing the dogs is practically Figs. 1-9.

ln Fig.. 15 the connection between the mouse trap housing and the operating pipe is threaded so that by rotating the operating pipe the ring 45 is unscrewed from the housing 46. By unscrewing the operating pipe suficiently to draw the master springs 20 from the tops of the dogs 47. ylhe resilient means 4 throw .the dogs back behind the master springs 2O and said resilient means 4 hold the dogs out of contact with the pipe until the mouse trap is withdrawn and reset.

lin Fig. 16, 48 indicates the broken drill pipe,`49 the packing and 50 the dogs engaged with the joint of the drill. pipe. 51 is the operating pipe. rlhe operating'pipe in this view has been pulled, compressing thc packing 49 against the broken and stuckdrill pipe so that the water forced down through the o erating pipe willypass on down through tie broken drill 'pipe to the bottom of the well,'notshown, thus'to wash out the earth from around the tools. lin this form the releasing meaiismay be of any of the types heretofore shown.

l claim.

1. ln a device 'of the character set forth., three superposed `members adapted for ,rotating and arial movement relative to each other,

42 to engage the rocking The upper ends oi the pins 41 ber.

resilient means carried by the middle memand for interlocking and unlocking alternately to prevent and allow relative axial movement; the lower member being 'temporarily connected with the middle member; dogs carried by the lower member to engage a pipe; resilient means carried by the middle member and adapted to hold the dogs alternatelyv in pip-e engaging and pipe ireeing position; yielding means subliect to said resilient means and adapted to move 7 the dogs past said resilient means when the members are su'lnciently separated to allow vthe dogs and said resilient means te escape each other.

2. The combination of a frame adapted to accommodate a pipe; dogs carried by the frame' and adapted to engage the pipe; yielding means to hold the vdogs out or" pipe engaging position; a ring rotatable relative to and movable toward and from the frame means to preventrelative rotation-oin said ring and frame when they areadja'cent each other; means' to temporarily prevent separa-K tion of the ring and frame; resilient means on said ring to' hold the dogs in pipe en gaging position at one time, and out of pipe engaging position at another time; and an annular member adapted to interlock with the ring to 'rotate the same; and to move the ring axially` relative to the frame.

3. A device of the character set forth .comprisingthree superpos'cd members adapted for rotative and axial movement independently of each other; pipe engaging means carried by the lower member; and y resilient means to move and to hold said pipe engaging means out of engaging position.

A.A device vof the character set forth comprising three superposed members adaptl ed for rotative and axial movement inde pendently of each other; pipe. engaging means carried by the lower member; and resilient means carried by the middle member to render thepipe engaging means in 'be temporarily connected t0 the lower mem- 5. All device of fthe character set' forth comprising three superposed members adapted Jfor rotative" and axial movement independently of each other; pipe engagin means carried by the lower member; an

ber to render the pipe engaging means in the lower member effective and adapted to `be temporarily connected to the lower member, said upper member being adapted to move said middle member rotatably axially relative to said lower member so that the -pipe engaging means carried bysthe lower member will escape the resilient means carried by the middle member. j

6., A device of the character set forth comprising three superposed members adapted l the lower member .eil'ective and adapted to p orrotative and axial movement relative.tol

silient means carried by said member andv adapted to normally hold saidpipe engaging means inpipe engaging position; means adapted to move said member so that said pipe engaging means escape said resilient means; and means to move said pipeengaging means to inoperative position after es- 4 'caping` said resilient means.

8. The combination of an annular "member; dogs carried by said annular member j and adapted to engage a. pipe; yielding means to hold the dogs in pipe engaging o-- sition; a -second annular member rotata le relative to and movable toward and from the first mentioned member; means fortem-y porarily connectingfsaid annular members to each other; a third annular mlember ro tatable relative to and movable toward and from said other members, and adapted to move said second member rotatably' and axially so as to separate s aid' second member' from said first mentioned memberf and to disengage said yielding means from said dogs so that said dogs will escape said yielding means and resilient means to hold said dogs out of pipe engaging positionl after disengagement from said yielding means.

9. The combination of a shell containing.

two members temporarily connected together, means carried by one of said two ymembers adapted to en age a pipe; said members being movab e rotatably and axially relative to said shel1;`resilient means adapted to hold said membersnpward in.

said shell; means above said two Imemloers and AixedJJo said shell adapted to, separate said two members by rotative and axial;

-movement.

A10. .The combination with a cylindrical shell of an annular member in said shell provided with means adaptedto engage a pipe and movablevrotatably and axial relative to said'shelh resilient means a apted and arranged to press said annular member upward in said shell; and resilient means carried by the annular member to hold the pipeiengaging means out of pipe gngaging position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto v set my hand at Santa Ana, California, this 3rd day of June, 1922.

' CLAUDE E. BROWN. Witnesses:

JAMES R. TowNsEND, N. JrWARNnR. 

